Feathers ruffled over Angkor replica

SIEM REAP  Cambodia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has lodged a complaint over a “copy” of Angkor Wat planned for Bihar, India, asking Indian government to intervene and put a halt to the project.
Phnom Penh Post reported that a letter sent Saturday to India’s Ministry of External Affairs, appealed to India to act in order to maintain “historical” diplomatic ties between the two countries.
“The Royal Government of Cambodia considers that this copy of Angkor Wat temple [built] for commercial benefit seriously violates [Angkor] world heritage, which is a universal and exceptional value of humanity,” the letter states.
It continued: “[The Cambodian government] strongly requests that India’s Ministry of External Affairs … reconsiders the planned construction of the Angkor Wat replica in order to preserve the traditional historic relations between the two countries and our people.”
inside no 1The letter added that the imagery associated with Angkor Wat has been a defining characteristic of Cambodia’s identity for centuries and is even the core visual of the country’s national flag.
The statement was issued after the Cambodian government received a report that the Mahavir Mandir Trust is moving forward with plans to construct the Viraat Ramayan Mandir, a massive Hindu temple complex with striking similarities to Angkor Wat, Cambodia’s most famous and valuable tourist attraction.
Cambodia’s Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts Secretary of State, Thai Norak Satya, voiced his concern over the potential commercial effect the copy may have on Cambodia.
“What’s concerns (us) is the commercial effect. People who don’t have money [for travel] will go to see the replica temple. But I think many people will still come to see the real temple.”
However, the Mahavir Mandir Trust head, Kishore Kunal, told the Post that his company was not creating a replica of Angkor Wat, saying that Cambodia’s famous complex was simply a source of inspiration for a new temple.
“We are using only the architectural theme of the spire as inspiration (from Angkor),” he said. “Inspiration is also being taken from other temples across India.”
But the head added that he has consulted with Cambodian authorities to determine whether or not his temple, which will upon completion be the world’s largest religious monument, is in fact an exact reproduction of Angkor Wat.
“We have asked Cambodia to send architects to see the plans and decide if they think it is a replica,” he said.
“They will realise that it’s an improved version of many temples, including Angkor Wat, the Hanuman temple in Mahabalipuram in Tamil Nadu, India, and others.”
He added there is technically no rule against replicating a World Heritage Site, saying that India’s neighbour Bangladesh hosts a replica of India’s iconic Taj Mahal to no one’s apparent dissatisfaction.
“Angkor Wat was a temple [devoted] to the Hindu god Vishnu,” he said. “But our temple will have many Hindu gods, such as Shiva, Ram – an avatar of Vishnu – Hanuman, Ganesh and Vishnu as well.”
Located in Cambodia’s Siem Reap province, Angkor Wat Historical Park, was inscribed in the UNESCO’s World Heritage list in 1992, and is the country’s most popular tourist destination.

sourced:ttrweekly.com